Have you ever wanted to be a fan of the world’s most popular sport? Have you watched soccer and thought, “I would watch more soccer if only I had a favorite team?” If you answered yes to both of these questions, then this column is for you.

The ball sailed through the air in the Swansea City penalty area, where the team’s right full-back, Angel Rangel, anticipated its descent. However, he misjudged the ball’s flight, allowing Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino to beat him to the ball. Rangel shoved the Brazilian in the back and Firmino fell to the ground. The referee pointed to the penalty spot, where James Milner would score Liverpool’s late winning goal in a 2-1 decision. Several days later, Swansea City’s manager Francesco Guidolin was fired and replaced by the American Bob Bradley, after widespread reports that Swansea needed to beat Liverpool to save Guidolin’s job.

Major League Soccer is the number one professional soccer league in the United States. Opinions on the league cover the whole spectrum from super-fans to haters. One could hear anything from “It’s a nice way to see some really talented players close to home” to “the only thing more boring than European soccer is American soccer.” Personally, I have always wanted to go to an MLS game to see the action for myself, and this past summer, I got the chance to watch NYCFC host the Colorado Rapids. Here’s the story of my day at the game and my first impression of the MLS. Like many Cornellians, I live within a few hours of New York City.